RECAP Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo March

RECAP Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo March

March 17, 2012 - The first ever Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo went down with packed crowd and a sold out event.  Sponsored by Portland Retro Gaming Expo, Game Deals, RL Events, and Seattle Retro Gaming Expo, the event was held at the historical two-level theater, The Columbia, at 530 Columbia St. in New Westminster.

The vendor area, freeplay gaming, and stage shows took place in the theater, whole panels took place upstairs. It was pretty different from your regular convention hall. The crowd was very enthusiastic overall and the volunteers were pretty helpful. As an artist showcasing at the event, I was pretty happy with the turnout, and the response to my videogame art. Thanks to all who stopped by and/or bought something. The poster prints did quite well!

The only thing that I think was missing, was live music from videogame themed bands/musicians. No live chiptunes, was a bit of a disappoint.

 Also, there wasn't much of any communication in terms of PARKING for the event. As an artist with stuff to bring to sell, where can I park without getting towed? In addition to that, the Table sizes were on the small side, for the high price.

Though these are things that should be improved over time. I'm looking forward to the next one. 

I took a few pictures, but due to a technical error, a bunch were erased from my phone when transferring them over to the PC. Fail. This is a bit of what was salvaged.

Sega Saturn Bomberman competitions

Admiral Snackbar (Bowser) vs Mario cosplayer.

I donated a 'Link' print to the charity auction at the Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo. Starting bid was $5, and went all the way up to a whopping $15 for Child's Play Charity! Sold to a gentleman from the Seattle Retro Gaming Expo. Save the children through ART!

In support of Megaman Legends, these Servbot masks were being handed out by a fan.

A random assortment of more auctioned items for Child's Play Charity

http://www.vancouvergamingexpo.com/ 

http://www.childsplaycharity.org/ 

http://www.thecolumbia.ca/ 

EVENT Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo March 17

ART EVENT! Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo

The first ever Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo, is set for this Saturday March 17th, 2012 at The Columbia, (530 Columbia st.) in New Westminister.

I will have some large poster prints of these wonderful pieces, originally created with marker on board.

Hope to see you there!

The Columbia.
530 Columbia Street
New Westminster, BC
V3L 1B1 

http://www.vancouvergamingexpo.com/ 

As always! Become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Albert-Art/45649548740 

https://plus.google.com/106042054698715164922/posts 

PARTY! 8BITSF POW DNA LOUNGE CHIPTUNES

PARTY! 8BITSF POW DNA LOUNGE CHIPTUNES (PICS, and VIDS)


To kick off GDC, 8bitSF hosted 'POW: Indie Music and Developers Collide' event at DNA Lounge. The night was filled with chiptune performers on stage, with indie gaming kiosks set up around the event.


The Glowing Stars, Zen Albatross, and Virt were among my favorites. The Yobble Air Guitar was also a fun little game for iPhone.


If you weren't at the event, you definitely missed out on some good stuff.


Check out the pics and video below.

DNA LOUNGE 
http://www.dnalounge.com/ 


8bitSF 
http://www.8bitsf.com/2012/02/8bitsf-presents-pow-indie-music-and.html 

INSERT COIN T-Shirts @ SUPER7

The more gamer shirts the better. Meat Bun has some fantastic tees, but these ones are quite good too.

Insert Coin Collection Designer T-Shirts: Pizza Man Fever, NES Sleeve, Arcade Rorschach, Kremlin Rocket, Bit Runner & Controller Family TreeSuper7 presents a new collection of T-Shirts with the Insert Coin Collection series featuring some classic arcade games.
From the top left to bottom right:Pizza Man Fever
NES Sleeve
Arcade Rorschach
Kremlin Rocket
Bit Runner
Controller Family Tree
Kremlin Rocket and Pizza Man Fever are available online now (HERE) with the rest of the collection available next week. $25 each.

http://blog.super7store.com/insert-coin-collection-designer-t-shirts-pizz

SUPER7 PIXELJUNK INSERT COIN GDC KICKOFF PARTY

Super7 and Pixel Junk are throwing a party !

#GDC Kickoff Party! Tomorrow night 3/6 6PM ft@PixelJunkNews 4amblog.super7store.com/game-developer… Drinks sponsored by @PBR_USA

PAX 2011 Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

PAX 2011 Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

SEGA at PAX
"VFer Looking to Challenge other VFers." If I put up a classified ad during PAX, it'd probably sound a little something like that.
SEGA gave gamers a chance to play the latest in the popular fighting game series during the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle (Aug.26-28), and though Virtua Fighter may not be as big in North America, as it is in the Japan, the fans are just as enthusiastic.


When I caught the news on the SEGA BLOG that two arcade machines, were being brought in from Japan, and were playable (free) during the entire PAX weekend at Gameworks, I admit I was ecstatic.
In fact, everything else at the expo took a back seat to Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, which required no PAX badge to play. I was itching to get to Seattle so I could get some rounds in, and to see what sort of competition would show up. Were there any Virtua Fighter fans out there PAX? And like a blinding kick to the face, I soon discovered there were.

Not since 2008, during a trip to Tokyo for TSG, have I played head-to-head Virtua Fighter 5 against an opponent in the same room. Online gaming on the XBOX 360 just isn't the same, and the Penny Arcade Expo isn't really known for being much of a Virtua Fighter scene. It still isn't, but SEGA brought something special this year, with an event outside the convention centre.
Situated in the main floor of the arcade, the machines were easy to miss if it wasn't for a few banners, and models. (There were two other Virtua Fighter 5 non-Final Showdown machines on the second level of Gameworks, but they were not free)
I stopped by on the Friday afternoon, and as expected there wasn't a big crowd around the machines, except for a few hardcore members of the VirtuaFighter.com forums. Most people travelled from other cities just for this game. Saturday night however was the opposite, being it was the SEGA party at Gameworks, VF5FS was a main attraction.
As usual with all versions of Virtua Fighter, things change, enough to take notice. VF5FS has changed quite a bit in terms of command input, dodging, throws, and general tuning. I personally find it frustrating when my favorite critical moves and combos have been shuffled around. VF5FS feels like a new game, refreshing for veterans, and more approachable for newbs interested in getting into it. That's not to say the game has been dumbed down for newer players. VF5FS is still quite complex, which makes it all the more satisfying when you learn how to play it.
Though, the best part of about going to PAX is the people, and in this case, it was the other Virtua Fighter fans. I really enjoyed the arcade vibe. Some of the really high-level players were nice enough to offer up some tips, and advice, and for the weekend it was like Seattle had an actual VF scene, if only for PAX. (Shouts to Chanchai!)
I honestly cannot wait for this game to hit the arcades officially in NA, as well on the home console in Summer 2012. It will be interesting to see how this game is marketed, as well as the reaction it will receive. Will Virtua Fighter finally catch on in NA? Even if it doesn't but remains as a game for specific fighting gamers, I'd still be very pleased to play it.
THANK YOU SEGA FOR MAKING PAX AWESOME!
Check out the Live-stream from the event and some pics!


Watch live video from IPLAYWINNER on Justin.tv

PAX 2010 Dead Rising 2 Capcom Event Greene's Hardware

CAPCOM DEAD RISING 2 PAX PARTY - Zombie killing event, minus actual zombies!

Capcom rented out a studio space during the Penny Arcade Expo, and transformed it into 'Greene's Hardware' an event to promote the upcoming title, Dead Rising 2. Gamers were treated to demo kiosks, and free pizza and soda, but the highlight of the night was the selection of 'hardware' on hand for attendees to handle.

From hammers, and batons, to samurai swords, gamers celebrated the popular videogame with a real hands-on experience. Unfortunately, there were no zombies to slice and/or impale outside of the videogame.

Dead Rising 2 was developed by Vancouver-based studio Blue Castle Games, which Capcom has recently purchased. The expansion has been referred to Capcom Games Studio Vancouver.

Now you can only expect a flood of resumes being sent to the studio, with would-be employees hoping to work on some popular Capcom properties.